Continuous muffle-kiln



H. WEBSTER.

CONTINUOUS MUFFLE KILN.

APzPLlcATxoN HLED FEB.27,1920.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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H. WEBSTER. coNTlNuous MUFFLE KILN. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. i920.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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H. WEBSTER.

CONTINUOUS MUFFLE KILN.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 27,1920.

Patented Dee. 14, 1920.

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CONTINUOUS MUFFLE-KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 14, 1920.

Application led February 27, 1920. Serial No. 361,845.

To all whom t may concer/a:

Be it known that I, HENRY ldnsrnn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and aresident of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous Muiile-Kilns, of which the tollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings forming a part of this specication.

My invention relates to the construction of Inutile kilns for the burning of that grade of goods which must not come in contact with the fire such as terra cotta, enameled ware, pottery and the like.

My object is to provide such a kiln in which the muies may be constructed in units to be operated in series or separately as desired and in which provision is made for the most perfect economical and uniform heating of the mutller on all sides by drawing the iire and heat over the sides and top and down through the Inutile and back and forth over the bottom.

It is also my object to provide a construction in which any one or more of the units in the series may be cut out temporarily for repairs or otherwise and the lire carried completely around the Inutile chamber without interference with the firing of the remaining muitler and without heating or affecting in any way the mutlle or inutiles which are withdrawn from use.

My objects are attained by that novel construction and arrangement ot iiues and furnaces in the manner to be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed,`in which the furnaces, except for the ends of the complete structure, are arranged along both sides of the Inutile chambers and in which the chambers are divided into separate units by a blank wall, with the lues so arranged as to carry the heat completely around each muiiie, with dampers to direct the heat from one mulile chamber to the next in series or to by pass any desired inutile chamber or chambers.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of one unit with the underground tlues and floor plan of two succeeding units in horizontal section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of one unit taken Y throughuthe down draft vues of the inutile.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudintal section o same showing the connection with adjacent units.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the main flue and connections taken on a median line between two of the units.

F 1g. 5 is a cross section taken through the transverse passage and lues intermediate two of the units looking toward the blank wall separating the units.

The main body of the kiln 1 is constructed ot' such length as desired with the arched roof 2 and divided into sectional units by blank walls 3 built solidly across the kiln. The sectional units are also arranged in series side by side with the main Hue connecting with the chimney flue between the several series. In each chamber 5 formed by the blank walls 8 is constructed on the ioor 4t of the chamber a mutle 6 with solid end walls 7, 7, and arched side walls and top to correspondwith and a convenient distance from the side walls and arch of the mutle chamber to allow for the passage of the heat and products ot combustion all around the ends, sides and top of the Inutile, one end wall of the muiile being located a like distance from the blank wall 3.

To support and brace the side walls of the mulie brace walls 9, 9, are provided lejxtending from the side walls of the cham- The furnaces 8, 8 for each chamber with grates l() are arranged along the sides of eachchamber, so as to deliver the heat and flames over the side walls of the Inutile.

Down through each mulile near the blank wall end of the mutiie and opening through the arched top are a series of down draft iues 12, 12. These lues extend vertically down through the inutile and are preferably arranged as shown with two flues at the center and the others near the side walls.

These flues extend down through the Hoor of the kiln and open into underground ducts 13, 14, which extend lengthwise under the muflle and around the division walls and back under the muiHe floor to outlets 39 underneath the blank wall 3 into a transverse passage-way 15 across the end of the mutlle chamber. From this passage-way when closed at the `ends by dampers as will the plant for heating purposes.

Ordinarily the connection between the transverse passage-ways 15 and the waste heat flue 18 is controlled by dampers 31. From the waste heat flue openings are also provided controlled by dampers 32 into the passage-way 19 which connects directly with the transverse passage 15 at its upper end and has a lateral connection with the main flue 20 ,controlled by damper 33.

This main fluel 2O also runs the entire length of the kiln and underneath the center of one kiln unit connects with a transverse iue 21 to the chimney 22. The chimney it will be understood can be located at any convenient point, although I have illustrated it in the drawings as outside the kiln and opposite the middle section shown.

Along the outside of the kiln structure underground and also in connection with the transverse passage 15 I provide an additional flue 23 running the entire length of all the sections.

This flue, as stated, connects with each transverse passage l5 and the inlet is controlled by a damper 24 at each connecting point. These dampers are normally closed but in the event that for repairs or other- Wise it is desired to cut out any section or sections I open up the liues 13,13 by knocking outfa'removable portion 25 at the inner end ofthe unit neXt the one to be cut out, which allows the heat and flames t0 enter the adjoining transverse passage instead of traveling back underneath the Inutile and then by opening up the damper 24 this heat 1s carried into the flue 23 and thence is carrled past the section to be cut out.

By proper control of the dampers by knocking out the ordinarily blocked oil' 'portions 25, 25,l the heat instead of being carried into the next Inutile chamber over the 'wall 16 may be carried directly under the floor of the inutile chamber through the passages 14.

As a further provision for controlling the heat I also provide a lateral passage 35 for the front end of the passages 13, 14, underneath the muffle floor which passage is controlled by damper 36 normally closed but which can be opened to turn the heat Yinto the waste heat flue 1,8 instead of taking it back underneath the muile oor.

Each mufle is provided with a door 27 or passage-way on each side for convenient use and the main and transverse underground tlues are provided with dampers for closing ofi any set of passage-ways and man-holes 28 are also provided at convenient points for access to the flues.

It will be understood that all of the units are constructed in exactly the same way and that the series of units when arranged in parallel rows are connected with the main iue 20 on each side.

The operation of the kiln will be obvious from the foregoing description. As many units are built as desired and they can all be fired at the same time through the furnaces for each muiiie chamber, or the heat from one set of furnaces can be utilized for the succeeding muiiies. The inutiles are so constructed that the heat can be appliedv for each mu'lile on every side and for the bottom and the heat from one set of the furnaces can be utilized for the succeeding sets.

It will be understood that as many unit chambers will be built as desired for the full capacity of the plant and additional chambers added as required. Any number of the units may be utilized at a time and the muiiles may be omitted from any of the chambers. Any kind of fuel may be used for tiring and the heat generated by the furnaces of one unit will pass through ,all of the succeeding chambers or not as the operator may desire by proper control of the dampers in opening up or closing the flues.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A kiln of the character described, comprising a series of heating chambers with a solid wall dividing the chambers from each other, furnaces along the sides of the kiln opening into their respective chambers, a muiiie in one or more of said chambers, hot airflues opening downwardly through the munie loor'with lengthwise passages underneath Vthe floor traversing the length of the Inutile and connection therefor with the main flue, said hot air iues extending through the roof of the mutile and opening into the heating chamber whereby the muflie may be heated in all sides uniformly.

2. A kiln of the character described, comprising a series of heating chambers with a solid wall dividing the chambers from each other, furnacesalong the sides of the kiln opening into their respective chambers, a mufile in one or more of said chambers, hot air iiues opening downwardly through the muflie floor'near one end of the muiiile with lengthwise passages underneath the iioor traversing the length of the muiiies and a balie wall in each passage to cause the products of combustion to travel back and forth underneath the muffie with openings for said passages into the neXt adjoining heating chamber whereby a continuous circulation may be maintained.

3. A kiln of the character described, comprising a series of heating chambers with a solid wall dividing the chambers from each other, furnaces along the sides of the kiln opening into their respective chambers, a inutile in one or more of said chambers, hot air flues opening downwardly through Athe muie floor near Qne end of the muiie with lengthwise passages underneath the floor traversing the length of the muHies and a bafHe wall in each passage to cause the products of combustion to travel back and forth underneath the mufHe with openings for said passages into the next adjoining heating chambers whereby a continuous circulation may be maintained, with a lateral passage at t e termination of the baiie wall and damper for controlling same whereby the heat may be diverted from its passage back underneath the Hoor of the muHe.

HENRY WEBSTER. 

